Some People Climb Up

A wilderness of tranquility, the lungs of the city, a home, a refuge, a playground. Woodlands evoke senses, memories and emotions for all of us.

Sylvia Rimat takes us on a playful, thought-provoking and deeply human audio-walk, exploring our connectivity with the woodland around us. Equipped with audio devices and headphones, you will be guided through a forest to experience it through all your senses.

Some People Climb Up is also an encounter with the metaphorical forest in our brain. It draws on neuroscience, the intricate fungal networks between trees, plant signalling, symbology and our own personal stories related to the woods to create an original performance. The work taps into climate emergency, grief and notions of care beyond the human species.

Informed by personal stories drawn from workshops held with year 8 -10 students at Bridge Learning Campus in Hartcliffe & participants of the Knowle West Walking Groups, from disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Bristol.

In 2021, during COVID, the project was developed into a tailor-made geo-located App to enable families and individuals to embark on the audio walk independently, equipped with their smart phone and headphones.

AVAILABLE FOR TOURING

Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Further support by Forestry England, We The Curious and Residence.

Based on an original concept created with Cat Jones.

Photo credits: Laura Montag

The forty-five minutes of calm instilled by Sylvia Rimat’s gentle and immersive woodland audio-walk is potentially so restorative it should be part of every school’s extramural plans and feature on everyone’s to do list.
Simon Bishop, Stage Talk Magazine
It was a joy. Well thought out, balanced and enlightening. Best experience I have had in a long time.
Audience member, Leigh Woods
’Some People Climb Up’ digs deep. It is at once playful and profound, creating an extraordinary new sense of roots inside us, between us and beneath us. A powerful meditation on connection, memory and grief, it generously guides us on a journey into forests both real and metaphorical, then clears a path for our own stories. The skilfully held shared experience creates gentle moments of recognition and relation between audience members, and a sense of community between strangers and place. It made me look differently at the world and people around me, and offered a breathing space I didn't know I needed but am deeply grateful for.
Mel Scaffold, CEO Theatre Bristol
It was such a beautiful, mediative, connective and moving piece. I felt waves of all sorts of emotions as we walked through the woods - joy, wonder, grief, sadness, hope - and this was inspired by the careful curation of sound and voice along with the surroundings. I was so fully immersed at times, and felt more connected and part of the world around me than I have in a long time.
Audience member, Leigh Woods
Very moving and important work - more people should have the chance to experience it.
Martha King, Arts Programme Producer, Knowle West Media Centre
I really loved it. A beautifully playful approach to some really challenging and pressing issues we're all dealing with at the moment. It prompted me to remember that everything is part of a much larger cycle. It was refreshing and peaceful.
Will Hunter, Creative Producer, We The Curious

Resources

Watch a short VIDEO Trailer about 'Some People Climb Up'
Watch the VIDEO TRAILER for the audio walks in Leigh Woods including an interview with Sylvia Rimat
Read a 4 star review, Stage Talk Magazine